The backstory

On Feb. 21, a conference titled “Culture of Protest” was scheduled to take place at Delhi's Ramjas college. The event was supposed to feature comments by activists Umar Khalid and Shehla Rashid, both known for supporting the “Free Kashmir” movement, but the speeches were canceled in response to major protests by members of the right-wing student group ABVP, who vandalized the college in retaliation for inviting to campus a man accused of sedition in 2016.

After ABVP's demonstrations, students, teachers, journalists, and activists staged a counter-rally in support of the invitations to Khalid and Rashid. Things got violent when ABVP members showed up and started fighting with demonstrators. According to reports, several activists were injured, and some women were threatened with rape.

In protest, Gurmehar Kaur posted a photo with the following message on Facebook on Feb. 22:

“I am a student from Delhi University. I am not afraid of ABVP. I am not alone. Every student of India is with me. #StudentsAgainstABVP”

The brutal attack on innocent students by ABVP is very disturbing and should be stopped. It was not an attack on protestors, but an attack on every notion of democracy that is held dear in ever Indian's heart. It is an attack on ideals, morals, freedom and rights of every person born to this nation. The stones that you pelt hit our bodies, but fail to bruise our ideas.
This profile picture is my way of protesting against the tyranny of fear. If you are a student in any Indian university, in any Indian state and you wish to protest against ABVP then take a similar selfie and make it your profile picture. Use the hashtag #StudentsAgainstABVP and copy paste this message along with it.

It's time for every student of India to unite! Jai Hind! Jai Democracy!

Kaur's supporters counter that she has a right to free speech, which they argue has “deteriorated” lately in India, thanks to state officials and right-wing activists who they say are too quick to slap a “sedition” label on all political dissent.

So, @mehartweets welcome to measuring the effectiveness of your public message in bulk hate messages. Bullies panic when confronted.

Kaur Gets More Threats

Kaur has received rape and death threats on social media from individuals calling her an “anti-national” agent. She filed a complaint on Feb. 27 with the Delhi Commission for Women, identifying several Twitter accounts that have been threatening her.